In some illustrative embodiments, a method for the mobile sale of sleeping devices includes: loading display sleeping devices upon a vehicle; driving said vehicle to a consumer; selectively presenting a plurality of said display sleeping devices to said consumer in a display area, whereby said consumer can lay upon said plurality of display sleeping devices to test the same; collecting information from said consumer regarding at least one desired one of said sleeping devices for purchase. In addition, various embodiments are also disclosed that pertain to the selling of furniture or the like items, such as, e.g., sleeping devices, sitting devices and/or the like. Among other things, some embodiments can be used for facilitating the delivery of various goods to consumers.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A furniture sales vehicle comprising: a) a driver area; b) a furniture display area; c) a mechanism for selective presentation of furniture items in said furniture display area for selective presentation to a consumer, wherein said mechanism for selective presentation includes a mechanism for facilitating transfer of items between at least one storage location and at least one presentation location.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said furniture display area is inside an interior of said vehicle.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said furniture display area is external outside an exterior of said vehicle.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle is a truck.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said furniture display area is located on a trailer.
6. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein said truck includes communication means for a driver or truck operator to communicate with a dispatch office.
7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said furniture includes sleeping devices.
8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein said sleeping devices include mattresses and further including mattresses displayed in said furniture display area.
9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein said sleeping devices include beds and further including beds displayed in said furniture display area.
10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said furniture includes sitting devices.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein said sitting devices include chairs, sofas or couches and further including chairs, sofas or couches displayed in said furniture display area.
12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein said sitting devices include sleeper sofas and further including sleeper sofas displayed in said furniture display area.
13. The vehicle of claim 1 , further including a supply area in said vehicle having a supply of furniture items for sale to consumers.
14. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for selective presentation includes a conveyor mechanism.
15. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for selective presentation includes a user operated control interface.
16. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for facilitating transfer includes a counterweighted lifting mechanism.
17. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for facilitating transfer includes a mechanism to impact vertical movement to said furniture.
18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said mechanism for facilitating transfer includes a mechanism to impart horizontal movement to said furniture.
19. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for facilitating transfer includes a mechanism to impart horizontal movement to said furniture.
20. A method for the selling of merchandise, comprising: a) loading merchandise within a vehicle body; b) transporting said vehicle body to a location; c) selectively presenting display items of said merchandise to said consumer in a display area inside said vehicle body, wherein said selectively presenting includes facilitating said selective presentation using a power source or manual-assist device, wherein said selectively presenting display items includes selectively moving said display items from between a display item storage area and said display area inside said vehicle body.
21. The method of claim 20 , further including: collecting information from said consumer regarding at least one desired one of said items for purchase.
22. The method of claim 21 , further including collecting payment from said consumer for the at least one desired one of said items for purchase on site at said vehicle.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said collecting payment includes receiving a cash payment on site at said vehicle.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein said collecting payment includes receiving a credit card payment on site at said vehicle.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein said collecting payment includes receiving an electronic payment on site at said vehicle using a computer within or proximate said vehicle.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein said items include sleeping devices and include mattresses.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein said sleeping devices include beds, mattresses, other bed components, or sleeper sofas.
28. The method of claim 21 , furthering including prior to said driving said vehicle to said consumer having said consumer provide a request for said vehicle to come to said consumer.
29. The method of claim 28 , further including having said consumer provide said request orally via telephone.
30. The method of claim 29 , further including having said consumer provide said request electronically via a computer network.
31. The method of claim 29 , wherein said furniture display area is located on a supporting surface within said trailer.
32. The method of claim 20 , wherein said vehicle body includes means for connection to a vehicle cab having a drive motor and a driver area.
33. The method of claim 20 , wherein said merchandise is located after transporting said vehicle body.
34. The method of claim 20 , wherein said merchandise includes sleeping devices.
35. The method of claim 20 , wherein said merchandise includes furniture.
36. The method of claim 20 , wherein said merchandise includes home furnishings.
37. The method of claim 20 , wherein said merchandise includes carpets or floor coverings.
38. The method of claim 20 , wherein said merchandise includes exercise equipment.
39. The method of claim 20 , wherein said merchandise includes electronics.
40. The method of claim 20 , wherein said selectively presenting display items includes selectively moving a plurality of said display items at different times to a common location in the display area.
41. The method of claim 40 , wherein said common location includes a display stand.
42. The method of claim 20 , wherein said selectively presenting display items includes selectively moving said display items from between a display item storage area and said display area inside said vehicle body, and wherein when in said display area inside said vehicle said items are arranged in a normal use position of the device.
43. The method of claim 42 , further including having the consumer use the item in accordance with the item's normal use while said item remains in said normal use position.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 15, 2003
April 3, 2007
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